Spanish Synagogue

This is the largest and best known of Venetian Synagogues. Its construction was started in 1555 (or in 1584, according to Cecil Roth) but it was entirely rebuilt one century later (1635 or 1654) by Baldassare Longhena (1598- 1682), architect of numerous Venetian « Scuo¬le » and palaces (such as the Scuola di S. Ni¬colo dei Greci or that of Santa Maria dei Carmini, Ca’ Pesaro, now the Modern Art Museum, and Ca’ Rezzonico, now the Museum of 18th century Venetian art, and of the very well-known Church of the Madonna della Salute) .

On the arch of the portal one reads the inscription: « Blessed are they that dwell in Thy House and continue to praise Thee» (Psalm 84, 5).

In the hall, to the left is a small Midrash which has retained its original characteristics. 

Several restorations were carried out during the last century and (particularly the installation of the organ in the place of the original pulpit) have partly altered its harmony. 

A women’s gallery runs all around the hall giving a sense of unity to the entire ambient. The motif, which is not related to the tradition¬al architecture of the Synagogues, reminds one of the Scola Grande Tedesca, which seems to have inspired Longhena, perhaps in accordance with the wishes of the person commissioning the work, to emulate the splendour of the first Synagogue built in the Ghetto.